Method of mixing



Dec. 11 1923.

1,477,265` D. R. MCKlLLlcAN METHOD OF MIXING 2 sheets-snet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1922 Dec. 11, 1923. 1,477,203

D. R. McKlLLlcAN METHOD oF MixING Filed Feb. 25, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 the conventional indication for liquid, which' Patented Dec. 11, 19.23.

UNITED srA'ras Pa'rlezN'rorifice.4

DONALD R. MUKILLICAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO MECHANICAL MIXER/S CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION' OF DELAWARE.

METHOD OF MIXING.

T o all 'whom t may concern-f Be it known that I, DONALD R. MoKlLLI- CA'N, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented a. new and useful Improvement in Methods of Mixing, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates broadly to methods for the intimate mixing of substances in general, more particularly to the mixing of food products, and specifically to the mixingi of'soda fountain drinks.

eference is made to my co-pending applications for agitators, Serial No. 440,293, filed January 27th, 1921, shrouded agitators, Serial No. 459,238, filed April 7th, 1921, and drink mixers, Serial No. 473,738, filed May 31st, 1921, which show and claim forms of apparatus capable of .performing my improved methods of mixin when opera-ted within the particular spee limits required. The process however may also be performed in other apparatus.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of a soda fountain shaker cup containing a mix, taken on the line 1--1 ofl Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same,.

taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Thenumeral 1 indicates the shaker cup, 2 the agitator shaft driven in the direction of the arrow 3 and carrying the agitator 4 within the shaker cup 1. f

My improved methods of mixing have been only recently observed through a special experimental glass shaker cup by operating it partly filled with water, and watchingthe fiow of the small bubbles entrained with the moving water. Particles of cork have been placed in the moving water and drops of ink have also been int-ro` duced at various places in the water to aid its visibility. g

ln Figs. 1 and 2, I indicate the motion of the water, thus observed, by means of arrows. The portion of the water which appears solid is indicated by light diagonal cross-section lines, as at 10, rather than by mi ht impair the visibility of the arrows.

he arrows 20-21, where they indicate the motion of the water at the surface nearest the observer, are solid. The arrows.

30-31, where they indicate the motion of the water at the Wall of the shaker cup remote from the observer, are dotted. The arrows 40-41, where they indicate the motion of the water flowing from a distance toward the observer, then at the surface and then away from the observer, are indicated with dotted heads and tails and solid bodies. The arrows -51, which indicate the motion of the water from a distance toward the observer and then at the surface, are indicated with solid heads and dotted tails.

The motion of the water, and probably opaque liquids, the motion in which cannot beobserved, such for instance as milk containing powdered malted milk, ice cream etc. is very complex and changes in details of the cycle of motion of the mix, make specific descriptiony impracticable beyond such description as can be expressed in the form of a drawing provided with-arrows.

There are a few general and clearly marked phenomena in my method of mixing; for inst-ance, the vortex 60, having its axis bent from -the vertical to the horizontal, with its lower extremity extending to the center of the agitator 4, whichis probably induced by the motion ofthe lagitator 4 around a horizontal axisand the mounting of the agitator 4 at one side and at the bot-- tom of the shakervcup 1,y allowing only a .limited bottom clearance.

The iow indicated by the full arrows 21 around the periphery of the agitator 4 in Fig. 2, and the full arrows 20 in the vortex 60, in both Figs. 1 and 2; is also conspicuous.

One of the prominent differences in the mixing performed in my method when o erated within its normal speed range and 1n correctly designed apparatus, as compared with agltation performed in an apparatus of the conventional type with a vertical shaft, is that the mix appears to flow freely into the agitator 4, whereas in the verticalI shaft type of mixer cavitation occurs at the agitator when run at high speeds. On the other hand, in the horizontal shafttype ofl mixers shown in thereferences'cited in theabovementioned applications the .occurrence of a vortex is not even suggested and a. vortex leading toward the center of the agltator 4' is necessary for lthe best mixing to dpermit,

An interesting feature ef my method is lio the manner in which a part of the mix is centrifugall projected away from the periphery of t e agitator 4, while another part of themix flows toward the center of agltation.

It is difficult to express, or even observe,

. the .motion of' a tumultuously agitated mix and variations in my method lcontinuously occur during the cycle of operation.' lVith various 'constituents in the mix and ,variation in the mixing apparatus and speed of operation the cycle 1s again modied, but the foregoing description is intended to be dia ammatic and` instructive, so that those Skil ed in the art may practice my improved method effectively.

I do not limitv myself, to the precise method described and my invention may be developed with progress of the art. The particular factors ofV my method which I desire to secure by Letters Patent are delined and measured in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of mixing, which consists of rotating and mixing a portion of a mix around an axis other than vertical and producing a vortex in another portion 'of the mix, withra curved axis substantially concentric with the rst mentioned axis at its lower` end and substantially vertical at its 30 Ppe r end.

2. The method of mixing which consists of mixing art of a mix at a laterally extending axls, impelling another part of the mix around the axis and deflecting the latter part to induce a vortex around an upwardly extending axis having its lower end -at the 4. The method of mixing, which consistsof impelling and vmixing part of a mix around a horizontal axis, thereby inducingv v movement in the remainder of the mix and the formation of a vertical depression hav-v ing the approximate shape of a hollow cone wit-h its base at the top of the mix and its apex at the horizontal axis.

DoNALD R. MGKILLICAN. 

